County Council shows support for coroner contractual employee
County Coroner John Grolich informed the County Council that he had attended the last County Commissioner meeting and discussed with them an issue he had with the workload.
“At the last commissioners meeting, I had a discussion with the commissioners about the disproportionate workload that I had in the month of May,” Grolich said. He informed the council that he had 24 cases that month. Those cases, as the coroner states, “put us tremendously behind.”
At that commissioner meeting, it was suggested and supported by
the commissioners that Grolich approach the County Council for additional funds to contract an individual to assist his department. The duties of that contractional employee would include clerical duties such as typing up case reports.
“Depending upon the rest of the year, I would like to ask for $8,000 to finish out the year and use that person as a contractual employee,” said Grolich.
In 2020, the Coroner’s Department had 140 cases and the year before that there was about 102.
“So, our numbers keep going up,” Grolich said. “The first of the month, this month, it appeared that we were going to keep the same pace as May, but we had a quiet week, thank God. But I don’t know what the future brings to us as far as our added workload.”
Since there wasn’t an actual written request for an additional appropriation, Grolich was asking for a sign of support from the council.
When asked, Grolich did say that he had some funds in his budget for part-time, but those funds are for certified deputy coroners.
“My budget usually is pretty much bare bones anyway,” he said.
Council Member Jon Vanvactor asked the coroner how many hours he’s looking for that contractual employee. Grolich responded that he’s looking at close to 20 hours a week. He also proposes to pay that individual $15 an hour.
“If we would start July 1, that’s $7,200 if they would work every week,” Grolich said.
“Which that would be way beyond what we currently pay for part-time clerical,” said Vanvactor.
County Auditor confirmed that the county pays part-time clerical $10.37 to $13.40 per hour.
Council Member Steve Harper asked about the difference between contractual and parttime.
“One of the big things, I suppose, would be the mere fact that you wouldn’t have to worry about benefits, taxes, and that sort of thing. The other thing is depending upon the interest, I may contract with my wife to do it,” said Grolich.
Council Member Jim Masterson said that he believed that a person could be hired for that $10.37 to $13.40 rate. “I would think you could get a typist for that pretty easily.”
Council Member Heath Thornton asked how Grolich has worked in the past without the additional help.
“From years ago, we used to have a clerical person who would type the cases. And I think when Bill Cleavenger was the coroner he stopped using that person and maybe I did the last year I was in office prior,” said Grolich.
Grolich informed the council that “there are times that some of the descriptive things in the case report leave a bit to be desired.”
“If he need it, if he needs help, in my opinion he needs help. But I think we would stay within whatever the range is with what we typically pay part-time people to do that,” said Masterson.
County Auditor Julie Fox added that a contract would have to be drafted by the County Attorney for that contractual individual prior to hiring.
Vanvactor questioned whether Grolich could hire his own wife due to the county’s nepotism policy. Grolich replied that he spoke with Commissioner Kevin Overmyer who said that as long as it was contractual it “might work.”
“It’s their personnel policy, so I guess he should know,” Vanvactor replied.
The council approved a motion to support the request.
Grolich is on the agenda for Monday’s County Commissioner meeting to discuss a contract for the contractual individual. That meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. in Room 203 of the County Building, located at 112 W. Jefferson Street in Plymouth.